On January 21, the first meeting of the European Maritime Skills Forum (E-MSF) took
place in Brussels. This new forum brings together leading maritime stakeholders,
including the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), the European Community
Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), members of the European Commission, DG-MOVE, and
the STC-initiated Maritime Education and Training Network (MET-NET).

STC plays a key role in the establishment and further development of MET-NET. What
began as a collaboration between five maritime academies has grown into a network of
21 maritime training institutions across Europe. MET-NET serves as an important
discussion partner for shipowners, trade unions, and the European Union in the field of
maritime education and training.

Previously, STC took a leading role in the establishment of EDINNA, a European
collaboration for inland shipping education. The experience gained from this initiative is
now being applied to further strengthen MET-NET and align maritime education more
closely with industry needs. One of the key focus areas within MET-NET and the new
forum is influencing learning outcomes and objectives within the Standards of Training,
Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) convention.

During the first meeting of the European Maritime Skills Forum, knowledge was shared,
and three working groups were established to focus on crucial topics:
• New fuels – Including a connection to the Dutch Maritime Master Plan.
• Digitalization – Researching the impact of digital innovations on maritime
professions.
• Leadership – Developing learning objectives around ‘Bullying and Harassment,’ a
topic high on the agenda of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Between 2019 and late 2023, STC was the project leader of the European SkillSea
project. This initiative mapped the current and future skills gaps in the maritime sector
and led to recommendations that have now been incorporated into the annual plans of
DG MOVE and DG Employability. Additionally, educational packages were developed for
the maritime sector.

Although the SkillSea project has concluded, the involved parties recognized the need to
continue collaboration. This led to the establishment of the Maritime Education and
Training Network (MET-NET), where STC once again plays a connecting role.

With this new partnership, STC remains committed to ensuring the future resilience of
maritime education and training in Europe.

Note for the editorial team:
For more information, please contact Esther Ouwens Nagell, press officer. She can be
reached by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at +31 6 22 47 48 22.

About STC:
STC (Shipping and Transport College) is the leading training institute in and around the
port for anyone interested in shipping, transport, process technology, and logistics. We
offer practice-oriented education at pre-vocational secondary (vmbo), secondary
vocational (mbo), higher professional (hbo) in cooperation with Rotterdam Mainport
Institute, and master's levels, as well as training programs and consultancy services both in the Netherlands and abroad. With over 4,000 students, we are the largest training
provider in the Netherlands in this field.

Source, STC